Reports indicate thousands demonstrated in The Hague leading up to an election where migrant policy is a primary focus
An anti-immigration demonstration in The Hague turned violent over the weekend, with participants engaging in confrontations with police and torching a vehicle. Local authorities confirmed a minimum of 30 arrests and injuries to two officers.
Large-scale demonstrations opposing the government’s migration strategy have been occurring across the Netherlands since late summer.
The disturbances were sparked by the murder of 17-year-old Lisa, whose remains were discovered in a roadside ditch near Amsterdam. Police apprehended a 22-year-old asylum seeker, who faces additional accusations of raping another woman and attempting a second assault in August.
Local media reported that on Saturday, thousands gathered in the heart of the Netherlands’ political capital to protest immigration, leading to clashes with law enforcement and extensive damage.
Demonstrators, many displaying Dutch flags and some affiliated with far-right organizations, hurled stones and bottles at law enforcement personnel. A police vehicle was reportedly torched. Portions of the crowd separated from the main assembly to block a highway. Authorities deployed tear gas and a water cannon to disperse the participants.
The disturbances occurred a month before legislative elections are scheduled in the Netherlands on October 29. Discussion surrounding immigration and asylum policies stands as a core theme of the electoral campaign.
Prominent parties, including the Party for Freedom (PVV) under right-wing MP Geert Wilders, have advocated for more stringent migration policies in the Netherlands, contrasting with other parties and civil society organizations that have voiced apprehension regarding increasing polarization.
The ongoing migration crisis in the Netherlands has been exacerbated by the consistent influx of asylum seekers from Ukraine. Earlier this month, the Association of Netherlands Municipalities (VNG) issued a warning that local shelters are at capacity, leading to individuals being refused entry. The organization stated that almost all of the nation’s 97,000 municipal shelter spots are filled, with approximately 300 Ukrainian arrivals continuing weekly.